Automatic toaster



July 7, 1942.

. M. IRELAND AUTOMATIC TbAs'rER Fil ed Nov. so, 1940 E Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENT'OR ATTORNEY Juli'7, 1942. M. IRELAND 2,288,713

AUTOMATIC 'ToAsi'En Filed Nov. 50, 1940 5 Shaets Shee t 2 g l F E E 19 W INVENTOR ATTORNEY (/RRAY [RELAND .M. IRE AND AUTOMATQIC TOASTER July 7, 19,42. 2,288,713

Filed NOV. 50, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 7, 1942. M. IRELAND AUTOMATIC TOASTER Fild Nov. 30, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RHAY [Baa/v0 x in' ATTORNEY claims.

Patented July 7, 1942 *Murray Ireland, Elgin, :lll., assignor to McGraw Electric Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 30, 1940, Serial No. 367,894 14 Claims. ((1219-19) on the line 12-12 of Fig. 13, showing certain My invention relates to electric cooking devices and particularly. to automatic electric toasters.

An object of myinventionis to provide a rela-.

tively simple means vactuable by the placing of a slice of bread on a vertically movable bread carrier for initiating .the toasting operation of an intermittently operable automatic electricmaster.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a normally deenergized electromagnetic means,pthe

energization of which, is effected bythe placing,

of a slice of bread on a bread carrier to :cause downward. movement of the bread carrier and attendant closure of a switch controlling the toast heating elements.

Other objects of my invention will either be apparent from a description of oneform of device embodying my invention or will be hereinafter pointed out, particularlydn the appended In thedrawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a toaster embodying my invention, shown on a..reduced scale,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the toaster shown in Fig. 1, f

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the electrical connections of my improved toaster,

Fig. 4 iSS, vertical longitudinal sectional view through the casing and the toaster structure,

taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 6 showing-theparts in non-toastingposition without abroad slice in the toasting chamber,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar toFig. 4 showingc-ertain parts of thetoaster structure when a bread slice has been inserted into the toasting chamber, I

Fig. 6 is a lateral vertical sectional view through the toastertaken on. the line *5 of Fig.

toastingposition,

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary view similar to Fig. 6 but showing parts in toasting positions,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevaticnal view 4 showing parts infront elevation and lunchof the parts shown. in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 4 except that the parts are shown in toasting positionand thatone setof heating coilshave been broken away to show the lever system for movingthe bread carriers,

Fig. 10is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line Iii-40 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentaryttop plan viewfshowing' more particularly the thermostatictiming means and taken on the line I |--i| of Fig. 7,

parts of the thermal timer in latched position occupied during a. toasting operation,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3-|3 ofFig. 11,

Fig. 141s a fragmentary sectional view simil .to Fig. 12 except showing the parts thereof in different operative positions as occupied by them at a certain time during a toasting operation,

Fig. 15 is a bottomview of the thermal timing means with the parts shown in non-toasting and cool ,position in the full lines and shown in their heated positions by broken lines,

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional vlewsiniilar to Fig. 12, the parts being shown in unlatched position occupied by them at the end of a toasting operation, and,

Fig. 17 a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 13

but showing the parts in the positions they will occupy when the thermal timer element is heated.

An automatic electric toaster embodying my invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by the numeral 2 I. and includes a skeleton bottom frame 23 which may be made of moulded composition material and includes further an outer casing having side walls 25 and a top wall or cover member 21 both made of sheet metal and properly interfltting with each other and with the bottom frame 2; to provide an oven-type toaster. I may provide a rear carrying handle 29 and a front carrying handle 3| secured to cover or casing portion 21. The casing portion 21 is further provided with a pair of bread-receiving and bread-removing openings .or apertures 33, and it will be noted that I have elected to show my invention as ap- :limited to this specific number of slices of bread toastable at the same time.

I provide a bottom metal plate 31 which may besuitably securedin any desired manner to the upper surface of the frame 23 and which is adapted to have mounted thereon a plurality of planar vertically extending heating elements 39 and I prefer to provide a pair of such spaced planar electric heating elements for each of the slices of bread to be toastedsimultaneously in a toaster. I have, therefore, illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 10 of the drawings, four Fig. 12 is a fragmentaryvertical section taken such spaced heating elements. Each of these vertically extending heating elements includes one or more pieces or plates ll of thin electric insulating material, such as mica, having mounted thereon aresistor conductor 43, all in a manner nowwell known in the art. The two outer most planar heating elements 39 constitute two heating elements or by any side walls of a toasting chamber or of a plurality of toasting chambers which are further defined by a rear intermediate wall 45 and a front intermediate wall 41, all of these being of a construction and mounting now well known in the art.

I provide further a plurality of guard or bread guide wires 89 which may be supported at their upper ends by the upper en 9f the respective r suitable means which may include top frame plates 5i extending l0 longitudinally of the toaster and having their front and rear end portions overlappi with and secured to the respective front and rear intermediate walls l'I and 55.

I provide one or more bread carriers 53 normally yieldingly biased into their upper or nontoasting position as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which bread carriers are adapted to move downwardly into toasting position as is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, so 2 that a slice of bread positioned on or carried by the bread carrier will be located betwggmtheeaer' pair of spaced vertically extending imam 'elements and will be subjected to radiant heat from the resistor conductor when the same is carryin: an electric current, all'as now well known in the art.

The means for yieldingly biasing the bread carrier upwardly include a linkage structure comprising an upper lever arm 55 which is pivotis long enough to extend forwardly of the front v operative position on the platform 83. The upintermediate wall 41 through a slot 59 therein and it may be noted that the member 55 is not straight buthas two arts extending angularly relatively to each other. I provide further a parallel motion means including an upper bar 5i and a 40 to two vertically extending plate members '55 which, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings,'are

' of generally Z-shape extending away from each other. The front end portions of the members 55 havethe front end portions of the bread carriers 53 secured thereto and I may use a horizontal cross bar 51 for the purpose of securing the front end portions of the respective bread carriers 53 rigidly to the members 55 so that downward movement of the front ends of bars 8| and 88 will cause downward movement of the 55 bread carriers 53 which will be retained in substantially horizontal positions, all in a manner now well known in the art. The intermediate portion of lever arm 55 has pivotally connected thereto "the upper end of a link 59, the lower end of whichis secured to an extension II from a part of the rear end portion of bar 83. It is evident that when lever arm 55 is moved from its upper position, shown by the broken lines in Fig. 9 of the drawings, to its lower position, shown 05 by the full lines in Fig. 9, link member 59 will cause a turning movement of the parallel motion structure including more particularly the bars BI and 63 so that the front ends thereof and particularly the members 85, will be moved downwardly to cause corresponding downward movement of one or several bread carriers connected with member 59, as hereinbefore defront end of lever arm 55 is less than that of the members 55.

Means for causing energization of the toast heating elements 39 is mounted on the rear intermediate wall 45 and includes a contact bridging member I3 insulatedly mounted on the lower end of a spring bar I5, the upper end of which is secured to the upper portion of the rear intermediate wall 45, the construction and adjustment of member I5 being such that the contact bridging member I3 thereon will be out of engagement with a pair of fixed contact members 11 insulatedly mounted on and supported by the rear intermediate wall 45 adjacent its lower end. Member 'II has a rearwardly extending portion, shown more specifically in Fig. 9 of the drawings,

adapted to engage against the inside surface of bar I5 near to but above its lower end so as to .3 cause outward movement of the lower end away from the rear intermediate wall 55 at the time? that the lower bar 53 is moved into the position shown particularly in Fig. 9 of the drawings. It

may be here pointed out that Fig. 4 shows the f positions oi the switch parts when normally open. I may pro ide a twin conductor cord I9 connected to proper terminals in order to permit of energizing the toast heating elements when toaster is to be used.

Means for normally yieldingly biasing the bread carriers into their upper, non-toasting position, includes a compression spring 8I which is supported on a small metal platform 83 which may have upwardly extending lugs 85 integral therewith to engage and suitably clamp the lower turn of coil spring 5i and hold it in proper per end of the spring 8i may abut against a top thin metal plate 81 which may have suitable fixed connection with the upper end portion 88 of an armature core member 9| adapted to be magnetized and moved by a coil whichis also supported on member 83. It will be noted from Fig. 3 of the drawings that coil 93 is electrically connected in shunt circuit relation with the toast heating elements 39. Member 9i has a lower end portion 95 of reduced dimensions, which portion 95 is integrally connected with the main portion of core 9| by a short part 91 of still smaller diameter than the part 95. Normally when the spring is permitted to expand to its upper limit, as shown for instance in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the portion 89 of the core will be in engagement with the lower edge of the front end ofarm 55 and this arm will move upwardly in the slot 59 provided for such purpose and the upper edge of the front end portion of ,arm 55 will be stopped by the upper end of the slot 58,

as shown for instance in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

I may provide a dashpot structure including a cylinder 99 and a. piston IOI therein connected with arm 55 by a link I03 so that the movement of the bread carrier will be gradual instead of abrupt, a condition of operation which is necessary because of the sensitivity of the operating structure to be hereinafter described in detail. A bracket I04, of L-shape, secured to the front intermediate wall 47, supports the cylinder 99.

It is evident that there is no permanent securing of the core member 9| and particularly of its. upper end portion 89 to the lever arm and when the coil 93 is energized it will cause downward movement of. core member ill from the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings to substantially the position shown in Figs. 7 and 9 of scribed. It may be here pointed out tha the 7 the drawings. with attendant downward movement or the bread carriers 33 because oi the position includes 9.

fact that the support for lever arm 33 has been suddenly lowered at the start 01' a toasting operation. I

- Means for holding the core' 3| in its lowered latch arm I 03 shown more particularly in Fig. 6 or the drawings as including a relatively long bar I01 and a short retumbent portion I03. latch I35 being pivotally mounted as on'a bracket III. The normal position or latch member III! is that shown in Fig.- 6 of the drawings so that the portion ll of the core member may move past the right-hand end or portion I 03 and into engagement with the lefthand end 01 part I31 to cause the latch III to turn slightly in a clockwise direction to be moved into holding engagement with a detent I I3 which will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter.

Since I desire that the placing oi. a slice of bread on either one or both of the carriers I3 shall start a toasting operation with attendant downward movement of the carriers'into toasting position and energization of the heaters, I provide an auxiliary lever arm H3 which includes a bar I" normally maintained in substantially horizontal position by reason of the fact that it has a front upwardly ex nding portion IIO pivotally mounted on that f nsversely extending pin or bar 61 herembeformdescribed. Part II1 has mounted thereon andpreferably integral therewith two vertical arms,,I2I and I23 or diilerent lengths and having top portions extending laterally as to the part I I1 thereof, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings. These upper laterally extending end portions are provided so that a slice of bread, and particularly its lower edge, will be adapted to rest upon these portions initially at the time that a slice bread is dropped in through the slot 33 or is moved by the operator or user through this bread-receiving slot and into engagement with the upper end 01' arm I33. The auxiliary lever arm III is normally yieldingly biased into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings by a small spring [26 suitably secured to portion H3 and a part of one or the members 63. Fig. of th drawings will show the position occupied by. auxiliary lever arm p 'I I5 when a slice of bread I21 has been placed in proper operative position on the bread carrier 53 while the latter is still in its upper or non-toastingposition. I

A switch for controlling the circuit of coil 33 -is actuated from its normally open position to its closed position by a small arm I28 constituting a part of portion II! or suitably rigidly secured thereto so that it will turn with lever arm I I3. The switch for coil 93 coiitapt bar I3I and a resilient contact bar I33 normally yieldingly biased into engagement with includes a relatively rigid tact arm I33 from the of the drawings to the or the drawings.

This means includes a vertically extending rod 3. the lower end through an opening in a bracket I43 secured to suitable means to be hereinafter described and the upper end portion or which extends through an opening in a depending portion I41 in a bracket member I 33 provided to carry not only the support I4! for latch arm I31 but also a pinrality of terminal members I3I and I33shown moreparticularly in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Terminal member I53 is adapted to support con act arms I3I and I33 so be properly connected in an electric circuit. The extreme upper end portion oi arm I43 extends through an opening in arm I3Iand may be moved into engagement with contact arm I33 to cause upward novement thereof into the position shown in Fig. 9 or the drawings to cause disengagement or this position shown in Fig. 5 position shown in Fig. 9

position by a small coil spring Iii, the upper end oi.' which abuts against portion I31 and the lower end or which abuts against a collar I31 secured to an intermediate portion of, rod I43. The lower end portion of rod I43 is provided with a slot I33 therein (see Fig. 9) which is adapted to receive an arm IBI rigidly secured to or constituting a part of the latch member I35. It is, therefore, evident that normally the expanded spring I35 on rod I33 will hold or bias the rod I43 downwardly into engagement with member IBI with resultant positioning of the latch I05 in the posi tion shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings where it is connected to a source of supply of electric ourcontact bar I3I but adapted to be held out of engagement therewith by. the short arm I29 under certain conditions.

A latch arm I31 has a lower hook-shaped end adapted to fit into an opening in the outer end portion oi contact bar I33 so that when a spring I39, which is connected to pivoted arm I31 and to the supporting bracket Ill, causes a clockwise bias of latch arm I31, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9 of the drawings, the arm I33 will be held in its upper position by the hook-shaped end of latch arm I 31 as shown, for instance, in Fig. 9 of the drawings, during certain times of operation of the toaster. The normal position of contact bar I33 relative to latch arm I31 is that shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and I will now describe the means for causing upward movement of conrent, the operator will place one or more slices of bread in the toaster through the toast-receiving openings 33 which will a cause downward movement oi the auxiliary lever arm H3 to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings which shows the parts at the instantwhen the slice of bread rests upon a bread carrier 33 with the auxiliary lever arm IIS turned in a counterclockwise direction but before any downward movement of the bread carrier has occurred. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 5 of the drawings that arm I23 has been turned out of engagement with the end or contact arm I33 so that arm I33 has moved, .by its inherent bias, into circuit-closing engagement with contact arm III with resultant energization of coil 93. Thiswill' cause quick downward movement of core member 3i, engagement of its lower end portion 35 with the latch I05 and turning movement of the latch so that portion I09 will engage over the upper end 01 portion of the core to hold it in its lower position. It is further obvious that turning movement of latch I05 in a clockwise direction will cause movement of the outer end portion of arm "21 under the hook end of detent member II3. Arm ISI was simultaneously moved upwardly or was turned in a clockwise direction with resultant upward movement of rod I33 to the position shown in Fig. 9

of the drawings where contact arm I33 was portion of which "extends.

that they may arm from contact arm I3I. The rod I33 is normally maintained in its lowered contact arm I33 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings during the toasting operation, held in such position by the rod I43 and after release of the core member 9| and upward movement thereof because of the coil spring 8| at the end of a toasting operation, rod I43 will be permitted to move to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings so that contact arm I33 will then be held by the latch I31 for a limited period of time, all as will be hereinafter described.

It is evident that when upward movement of the'bread carrier 53 and of the auxiliary arm H thereon has been effected at the end of a toasting operation, the lever arm II5 will occupy the position relative to the bread carrier 58, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawings, as long as the slice of bread is permitted to remain on the carrier. However, as soon as the operator removes the slice or slices of bread, spring I25 will cause turning movement of the auxiliary lever II5 which will engage the arcuate surface of the lower hook-shaped end of member I31 to cause turning movement thereof in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings to the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings so that arm I33 will be disengaged from the latch I31 but will be held in a position to prevent engagement by the arm I3I, by reason of the small arm I29, allas shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This will, therefore, reset all of the main control portions and parts of the bread carrier structure ready for the next successive operation.

I have shown in Figs. 11 to 17 of the drawings,

, a thermal timer structure which I may use to determine theduration of a toasting operation but since this is disclosed and claimed in Serial No. 349,932, filed by myself and John R. Gomersall August 2, 1940, and assigned to the same assignee as is the present application, I will describe briefiy only the method of operation of this thermal timer since it forms no part of my present invention.

The thermal timer embodies a bimetal bar "I which has one end thereof secured to a bracket I13 which bracket also has secured thereto one nd of a relatively rigid bar I15 which extends normally parallel to but spaced apart from thermal member I1I. Bracket I13 is pivotally supported on a pin I11 which pin may be fixedly secured to a small plate I19 of electric insulating material, which is secured to the bottom surface of a small box or casing I8I in which the parts of the thermal timer are positioned.

The box or casing I8I has mounted therein at that end thereof away from the pivot pin I11 a bracket I83 to the lower end portion of which is pivotally connected the detent member II3.

Member H3 is of L-shape as shown in Figs. 12,-

14 and 16 and a tension coil spring I85 is connected to the horizontally extending portion of detent member II3 to bias it into latching position.

The bimetal bar I1I has asmall electric resistor or heating coil I81 insulatedly mounted thereon which heater is adapted to be electrically connected in series circuit relation with the toast heating elements 39-.

A lever arm I89 pivotally mounted on suitable means in the casing I 8|, which means may be bracket I83, has a lower horizontally extending portion I9I shown, for instance, in Fig. 12 and an upper vertically extending arm I93which is positioned in front of the front intermediate wall and is bent slightly forwardly as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. A roller I95 is mounted on the bread carrier structure hereinbefore described, (see Fig. 6 of the drawings) so that during the time that the toaster is not in use and when the bread carriers are in their upper position, arm I89 will he in the position shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. Arm portion I9I is provided with a recess I91 in its lower edge which has a shoulder portion I99 in which the movable or free end portion of bimetal bar I1I is adapted normally to rest.

When current flows through the heating coil I81 the bimetal bar normally tends to move to the right as seen in Figs. 12, 14 and 16 but is prevented from doing so by reason of its fitting into the shoulder portion I99. However, the bimetal bar I1I will flex into the position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 15 of the drawings with attendant turning movement of rigid arm I15 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 15, a small coil spring 2III connected to arm I15 ensuring this turning movement. At a certain temperature of the bimetal bar "I member I15 will engage a point on a cam surface 203 of a manually adjustable means 205, these parts being those provided to vary the duration of a toasting operation. When the end portion of member I15 engages cam surface 203, the bimetal member I1I will be caused to move out of the shoulder I99 into the position shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings where it will move into the deeper part of recess I91 permitting angular turning movement of lever arm I88 into the position shown particularly in Fig. 14 of the draw- I ings.

The energization of auxiliary heater I81 is controlled by a pair of contact members 201 and 209 which are normally held out of engagement but permitted to engage when arm I9I moves into the position shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings so that thereby auxiliary heater I81 is deenergized and the bimetal bar I1I will then begin to cool. Fig. 14 shows. the position occupied by the rigid bar I15 immediately after the deenergization of auxiliary heater I81 and before effective cooling of the bimetal bar I1I has occurred while Fig. 16 shows that the bimetal bar "I, the free end of which is now held in a relatively fixed position, has cooled enough to cause bar I15 to engage an ear 2'II constituting a part of the detent lever arm II3. Further cooling of the bimetal bar I1'I will cause further movement of bar I15 in a left-hand direction, as seen in Figs. l4 and 16, with final turning movement of detent II3 intothe position shown in Fig. 16 where latch arm I01 has been released and upward movement of the armature core and of the carriers and of all of the parts connected therewith may occur. The upward movement of roller I95 will cause turning movement of member I89 in a counter-clockwise direction to restore all of the parts to their normal positions ready for the next successive toasting operation.

As it may be dsirable at times to cause early termination of a toasting operation, even before the proper toasting desired has taken place,

- the front wall of the toaster for manual operation by the user, if and when desired. The righthand end of pivoted arm 2I3 has a rearwardly extending portion 2I9 adapted to engage against the front edge ofdetent ll3so that pressure on member 2| I will cause turning movement of arm iliin a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 11 of the drawings, with resultant turning While I have illustrated and described a speciflc form of. timer and particularly a thermal timer, 1 do not desire to be limited thereto and I, may .use any kind of timer now available or; which may hereinafter be available and which,

is effective for substantially the same purpose.

It is, therefore, evident the toaster particularly embodying my invention provides electromagnetically actuated spring means effective to normally hold a bread carrier in non-toasting position, that I provide relatively simple means mounted particularly on a vertically reciprocally movable bread carrier and initially holding an electromagnetic circuit controlling switch in open position, as well as simple means actuated by the placing or a slice of bread on the bread carrier, to cause closure of the coil, circuit-controlling switch, energization of the coil,-downward movement 01 its core with attendant compressionof a bread carrier biasing spring and movement of a support unsecured to the bread carrier out of engagementtherewith with attendant downward movement 01 the carrier into toasting position and immediate starting of a toasting operation.

While I-have described and illustrated specific embodiments of my invention I do not desire to.

be limited thereto since all modifications coming clearly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims aretto be considered as being covered thereby.

I claim as my invention: 1. An automatic electric toaster including toast heating elements and supporting means for the said toast heating elements, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting pomovable with said bread carrier to toasting position, said lever arm having a part thereof normally positioned abovesaid carrier andadapted to be depressed by a piece of bread placed on the carrier, means actuated by the lever arm with the carrier in non-toasting position to cause closing 01. the, electromagnet-control switch, on-

ergization oi the electromagnet, downward movement of its core with removal of the bias normally acting on said carrier with the lever arm it and movement of the bread carrier into toasting position, and means operative when the carrier is in toasting position to cause opening of the said electromagnet control switch,

2. An automatic electric toaster including toast heating elements, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relatively to the toast heating elements and normally yieldingly biased into nontoasting po'sition, an electromagnet having a movable core adapted when energized to remove the bias on said bread carrier and cause it to move into toasting position, a switch controlling the en- -5 ergization of the electromagnet and yieldingly biased into closed position, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and adapted to engage said switch and hold it in open position when the carrier isin its non-toasting position; spring means adapted to normally yieldingly bias the {lever into switch-opening position, the placing carrier causing turning movement of the lever, t. disengagement thereof from the switch, energi- ,l'o'zation of the electromagnet, downward movement oi the core and of the carrier into toasting position, and means operative when the carrier is in toasting position to cause opening-oi the said electromagnet control switc 3. An automatic electric toaster including toast heating elements, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relatively to the toast heatingelements and normally yieldingly biased into non-toasting position, an electromagnet having a movable core adapted when energized to remove the bias on said bread carrier and cause it to move into toasting position, a switch controlling the energization of the electromagnet, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and adapted to engage said switch and hold it in open position when the carrier is in its non-toasting Position, spring means adapted to normally yieldingly bias the lever iii-'- to switch-opening position, the placing of a slice 5 of bread in operative position on the carrier causing turning movement of v the lever, closing of the switch, energlzation 'ot the electromagnet, downward movement of the core and of the carrier into toasting position, means operative when 40 the carrier is in toasting position to cause opening oi said electromagnet control switch, means controlling the return of the said carrier to nontoasting position, and a latch engageable by said switch to hold it in open position, said latch be- 5 ing engageable by said lever arm after return of the carrier touch-toasting position when a slice of bread is removed therefrom to cause it to be released from said switch, the lever arm then becoming operative to hold said switch in open position.

4. An automatic electric toaster including toast heating elements, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relatively to the toast heating elements and normally yieldingly biased into non-toasting position, an electromagnet operative to remove the bias on said bread carrier and cause it to move into toasting position, a normally open switch con-.

, trollingthe energization of said electromagnet go mounted in the said toaster and the said bread carrier relatively movable to the said switch,

, a lever arm pivotally mounted on said bread carrier and having a part thereof normally positioned above said carrier and adapted to to be depressed by a piece of bread placed on the carrier, means actuated by the lever am when thecarrier ,is'in non-toasting position to cause closing of the electromagnet-control switch, energization of the electromagnet, downward movement 01 its core with removal of the bias normally acting on said carrier and movement of the bread carrier into toasting position, means actuated by said electromagnet tocause opening oi a slice of bread in operative position on the 1 timingmeans to etlect release of the core mem ber and return or the bread carrier into nontoasting position at the end of a toasting operation and locking means adapted to hold the said electromagnet control switch in an open position upon return or the said bread carrier into non-toasting position until the removal of the said piece of bread and upon removal of the said piece of bread, the lever arm aforesaid so 7 arranged as to disengage the said locking means whereon the said lever arm is adapted to hold the said switch in open position until the said lever arm is again depressed by a piece of breadplaced on the said carrier.

5. An automatic electric toaster including toast heating elements, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relatively to the toast heating elements and normal-- ly yieldingly biased into non-toasting position, an electromagnet having a movable core adapted when energized to remove the bias on said bread carrier and cause it to move into toasting position, a switch controlling the energization oi the electromagnet yieldingly biased to closed position, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and adapted to engage said switch and hold it in open position when the carrier is in its non-toasting position, spring means adapted to normally yieldingly bias the lever into switchopening position, the placing of a slice of bread in operative position on the carrier causing tuming movement of the lever, disengagement thereof from the switch, energization of the electroiromthe carrier causing return of the lever into position in such a manner as to release the said locking means and the said lever adapted to hold open the electromagnet-control switch un til the said lever is again actuated by the placing of a piece of bread in operative position on the said carrier.

6. In an automatic electric toaster, heating means, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the heating means, electromagnetic motor means for moving the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position, means for returning the carrier from toasting to non-toasting position, a control switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means mounted in the toaster, a switch closing member mounted on the carrier in position to actuate said control switch when the carrier is in non-toasting position, said switch closing member being engageable by a bread slice p n application to the carrier to cause closing the switch and being movable out of switch actuating position when the carrier is moved into toasting position, and means operative when, the carrier is moved into toasting position for opening the control switch.

7. In an automatic eieetne toaster, heating means, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the heating means, electromagnetic motor means for moving the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position, means for returning the carrier from to non-toasting position, a control switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means yieldingly biased to closed position,

a releasable element for holding the switch open the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position. means for returning the carrier from toasting to' non-toasting position, a control switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means yieldingly biased to closed position, means mounted on the carrier for holding the switch open when the carrier is in non-toasting position and being actuatable by a bread slice upon application to the carrier to cause closing'ot the switch, and means rendered operative in response to movement of the carrier into toasting position for opening and retaining open the control switch independently of said slice actuated means.

9. In an automatic electric toaster, heating means, supporting means for the said heating means, a' bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the heating means, electromagnetic motor means for mov- .'ing the carrier from non-toasting to toasting switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means yieldingly biased to closed position and is adapted to hold the said switch open, until .ilxedly mounted on the said supporting means lever means mounted on the carrier for holding -the switch open when the carrier is in nontoasting position and being actuatable by a bread slice upon application to the carrier to cause closing of the switch, latch means for securing the switch in open position, means responsive to movement of the carrier to toasting position for moving the switch into open locking engagement with said latch means, and means responsive to removal of a toasted bread slice from the carrier aiter return to non-toasting position tor releasing said latch means whereupon the said lever means mounted on the said carrier the said lever means is actuated by a bread slicl upon application to the said carrier.

10. In an automatic electric toaster, heating ,means, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the heating means, electromagnetic motor means fol moving the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position, means for returning the carrier from toasting to non-toasting position, a switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means mounted in the toaster and the said bread carrier relatively movable to the said switch, con trol means actuatable by a bread slice upon application to the carrier for causing closing of said switch when the carrier is in non-toasting position, independent means for reopening the switch operative when the. carrier has moved to toasting position, latch means for securing the switch in open position when the carrier returns to non-toasting position, and means responsive to withdrawal of a toasted bread slice from the carrier for releasing said switch latch means spasms a I retain the said switch in open position in such a manner that the said switch may be closed upon actuation of the said control means by the application of a bread slice to the said carrier.

11. In an automatic toaster 01 the type comprising heating means, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the heating means, electromagnetic motor means for moving the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position, means for returning .the carrier from toasting to non-toasting position, a switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means and manually operable means for causing the closing of the said switch; the improvement comprising means for reopening the said switch operative upon movement oi the said carrier into toasting position, a latch means for securing the said switch in the said open position and manually operable means for releasing the said latch means, the said latch releasing means manually operable upon return 0! the said carrier to non-toasting position for closing the said switch for returning the said carrrier to toast ing position.

12. In an automatic toaster oi the type comprising heating'means, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the heating means, electromagnetic motor means for moving the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position, means Ior returning the carrier from toasting to non-toasting position, a switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means and manually operable means for causing the closing of the said switch; the improvement comprising means operative when the said carrier is in toasting position to cause opening of the said switch, spring latch means for locking the said switch in the said open position and o1 erable means i'or releasing the said latch means. 13. In an automatic toaster oi the type comprising heating means, a bread carrier movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relative to the hcatingmeans, electromagnetic motor means for moving the carrier from non-toasting to toasting position, a switch for energizing the electromagnetic motor means ally operable control means for causing the closing of the said switch; the improvement comi prising means adapted to actuate the said switch means in such a manner as to open the said switch upon movement or the said bread carrier into the said bread toasting position, and

latch means for locking the said switch in the said open position.

14. In an automatic toaster oi ineluding a casing having a toasting'chamber, a

bread carrier in said chamber movable from a bread receiving positionto a bread toasting position in said toasting chamber, an electrically operated means adapted to move the said bread carrier from the said, bread receiving position to the bread toasting position, and means adapted to return the said bread carrier from the bread toasting to the said bread receiving position; the improvement comprising control means for making the circuit of the said electrically operated means, the said control means adapted to be actuated by a slice of bread in such a manner as to make the circuit aforesaid upon I the positioning of the said slice of bread upon the said bread carrier. and means adapted to actuate the said control means in such a manner as to open the said circuit upon movement 01 I the said bread carrier into the bread toasting position, and spring latch means adapted to lock the said control means in the said open position, and means operating the termination or the toasting operation for returning the said bread carrier to the aforesaid bread receiving position, 7 the said spring and latch means adapted to retain the said control means in the said iocked open position upon the return oi! the said bread carrier to the atoresaidwreceiving position. and

spring latch means. i

manually operable means tor releasing the said and menu- 

